Computing gasoline gauge



1931. H. KIRKPATRICK COMPUTING GASOLINE GAUGE Filed Aug. 5, 1929 Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES P TENT] o FFICE COMPUTING GASOLINE GAUGE Application filed August 5, 1929. Serial No. 383,744. I

It is often difficult, with the price of gasoline fluctuating constantly, for an attendant at a filling station to quickly figure the charge on odd amounts. Automobile drivers often request to have their tanks filled.

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This invention relates to a computing scale by means of which the attendant is instantly informed of the price to be charged for any odd amount of gasoline which has been delivered from the gasoline pump. The principal object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can be quickly and easily applied to any gasoline pump without requiring drilling or tapping of holes and which readily adapts itself to the constantly chang ing unit price of the gasoline.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for quickly attaching price cards so that they can be adjusted to correct their position upon the measuring cylinder and so that they will be securely maintained in the adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following detailed description.

In the following description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a typical gasoline pump with the invention in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough taken on the line 33, Fig. 2. v

The usual gasoline pump consists of a supporting base 10 upon which a glass measuring cylinder 11 is earned. The cylinder 11 is usually clamped between an upper flange 12 and a lower flange 13 by means of clamp rods 14:. The invention is designed to be positioned between the upper and lower flanges 12. and 13. j v

The preferred form of the-invention consists of a backing plate 15 turned back along one longitudinal edge as shown at16, to form a longitudinal card socket. At each extremity of the backing plate 15at-tachment bars 17 are secured. A pair of set screws 18 are threaded through each ofthe bars 17.

In attaching the'device to a gasoline pump it is positioned between the flanges 12 and 13 and the set screws 18 are tightened so as to clamp against these flanges and securely lock the backing plate 15'therebetween. The bars 17 are positioned at an angle to theplane of the backing plate 15 as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that when in position upon the flanges 12 and 13 the backing plate will extend inwardly toward'the measuring cylinder 11, so as to maintain one edge of a price card 19 against I theglass. The position of the device is in dicatedin Fig. 3, in which, thesurface of the measuring cylinder is indicated at ll and the position of the outer edge of the flange 13 at The price card 19 is held in position by being passed under the turned back edge 16 and clamped to the backing plate 15 by means of clamp fasteners 20. The clamp fasteners 20 pass'through'longitudinal slots 21 in the card 19 and may be turned onthe face of the card to extend across the slots as indicated in Fig. 2. The fasteners 20 are constantly pulled inwardlyso as to clamp the card against the v backing plate15 by compression springs 22 upon the rear of the plate 15. i v

V Thatedge of the price card 19 which bears againstthe glass cylinder 11 is notched so as to form projecting. pointers 23, each pointer a being preferably spaced so as to indicate the depth of a quarter gallon in the glass cylinder 11. Directly opposite the pointers 23 are a series of price markings 24. The markings 24 being computed so as to increase consecutively'by the cost of one quarter gallon of gaso- 3 line according to a certain base price which is indicated at the top of the price card, as shown at 25. A series of price cards 19 for the usual series of gasoline prices are fury nished with each of the devices.

Let us assume that the operator has the plate 15 in position between the flanges 12 and 13 of his gasoline pump and that the basic price of gasoline at that time is 24 per gallon. By slipping the edge of the tag 19 which bears the base price of 24, under the turned back portion 16 and turning the attachment clips 20 in position, he secures this tag to the backing plate. The longitudinal slots 21 allow him clearance to adjust the price card upwardly or downwardly until the even gallon indications thereon correspond with the even gallon lines on his measuring cylinder 11, in which position the card will be securely held by the pressure of the attachment clips 20.

Let us assume that after filling a tank, the level of the gasoline in the measuring cylinder indicates that nine and three-quarters gallons were used. The operator need not know how many gallons were used, he is only required to notice that the gasoline level is opposite that pointer 23 which indicates $2.34, which charge he will make to the customer 7 without further computation. Should the customer question the charge he can also refer to the price tag andnote the price thereon or he can refer to the ordinary gallon markings upon the cylinder and compute it.

, It can be readily seen that by the use of this device much time is saved for both the customer and the station operator, and that odd amounts of gasoline can be accurately charged without error.

l/Vhile a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it

is desired to be understood that the same may be aried within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is i A computing scale for visible gasoline pumps comprising: a backing plate adapted to be securedto said pump; a price card provided with longitudinal openings and having a series of price indications; a series of pointers formed on sa1d price card opposite and corresponding to sa1d price indications; a

- turned backportion along one edge of said backing plate adapted to overlap, said price card; and rotatable narrow headed attachment clips carried by said backing plate and adapted to pass through said longitudinal openings insaid price card and be turned so as to maintain the latter in place.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LEIGHTON H. KIRKPATRICK. 

